According to a report from Poslovni Dnevnik on the 16th of July, 2019, the media in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina reported on some news about a Bosnian tourist visiting Croatia who experienced a somewhat strange situation on the Pelješac peninsula, more precisely in Trpanj: to rent a sun lounger, you’ll pay a reasonable 25 kuna, but if you want to put that sun lounger under a palm tree for some shade from the sun’s harsh rays, then it costs three times more – you’ll pay 75 kuna.
This story does seem a little odd, so Morski.hr tried to find out what was going on and whether or not the story truly is correct.
Trpanj’s mayor, Jakša Franković, believes this is a pure fabrication because he just doesn’t believe this is possible.
“I think it’s just something someone made up, it’s almost impossible, because the municipal council has issued two concessions for the rental of sun loungers, one to ”Plavi obrt za morski ribolov” who own 36 of the sun loungers placed at that location in Trpanj, and ”Hotel Faraon d.o.o. Trpanj”, which owns 20 sun loungers on that same beach. They rent out sun loungers, not shade, and that’s what they’ve been approved for. If this really is true, I’d like this to be sent to our e-mail address or to that of the Trpanj Tourist Board. If the guest used the sun lounger after having paid three times more for it for the above reasons, then I’d like to see that receipt,” said Mayor Franković.
“If this honestly is true, then it’s a kind of bad marketing trick, and the market punishes such unsuccessful jokes, and they can’t know if everyone is joking or if they aren’t. Mr. Jakov Begović (one of the concessionaires, op.a.) is otherwise inclined to making jokes. Recently, he wrote in front of his facility, ”Govorimo sve jezike osim vašeg” (We speak all languages except yours). In my opinion, that’s also one of those bad jokes that can also be misunderstood,” added the mayor.
The owner: We’re not charging for shade, we’re charging for sun loungers next to the palm tree.
Jakov Begović, the owner of the otherwise well-known facility in Trpanj, told Morski.hr that he saw no issue with this.
“I don’t see anything controversial about it, and it’s not about shade, but because the sun lounger is standing next to the palm tree,” he said.
“There are two palm trees and a table is placed next to them, and it’s called a palmset. If the gentleman from Bosnia was used to seeing parasols advertised for rent for protection from the sun, then he wouldn’t be upset about it. If people want to, people can rent sun loungers and then lie beneath them and use the shade of the chair!” he concluded, clearly irritated.
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